Lamp socket



W. M. CARTER.

LAMP SOCKET'.

APPLlcAnoN man rss. 11. |919.

Patented May 16,1922.

Anarranv gsrarss PATENT clerics.l

WALTER M. CARTER, OF PORTSMUTH, VIRGINIA,

LAMP sooner.y

ILeidens.

'1"0 L713 lifo/"1.0779, t may coaccwi:

Be it known that VALTER M. CARTER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Portsmouth, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, has invented new and useful Improvements in Lampl Sockets, of which the following is a speciication.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a new and novel form of lainp socket embodying a'certain'closing element performing 'the functions of a B-way switch. Thus three wires may beb'rought to the socket carrying two dilferent voltages, whereby a lamp carried by the socket may be made to burn at two diiferent 4degrees of luminosity. A. further purpose of the invention is to provide a switch of this character simplified in construction and yet durable and effective in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and further purposes appear in the following description wherein the invention is set forth in detail. .f lVhile illustrated in a specific embodiment, the invention is not to be restricted to such embodiment. `The right isreserved to make anyfchanges or alterations suggested by the demands of practice, in so far ass'uch 'changes or alterations are compatible in spirit with the annexed claims.`

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of the improved switch. y c c i Figure 2 is a view in side elevation but with the shell removed. f c

Figurey u yis a'section on the line 3-3 of Figure l. i

Figure i is a reverse view of the structure shown in Figure 2. l

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-V-5 of Figure l.

Figure*6,is a top plan view of the strucn ture of Figure 2.

Figure 7, is a section on the plane indicated by the line 7 7 of Figure 3.

Figure 8, is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the circuit closing element in neutral position.

As shown in the drawings, the switch is provided with the usual shell l from which `there projects laterally on either side the circuit closing element 2 which is in the form of a bar the body portion of which is Specification of Letters Patent. Pgmtnted way 16, 1922 Application med rein-nary 1i, 1919. semi No, 276,272.

. square in cross-section and the'end portions 3 round. The end portions 3 are the parts of the circuit closing element which project from the shell. This circuit closing element is of course made of insulating material, preferably fibre. c

, The `body of the switch comprises the secy tions 4 and 5 also of insulating material,

preferably fibre. To the latter section of the body the husk 6 is attached, this husk being of the conventional variety and crimped or corrugated to provide a screw for the reception of a lamp base The husk is secured to the section 5 by means of the screws 7 and 8, the screw S also serving in. part to attach the section 4 on top of the section'. The screw 8 secures the binding plate 9 to the section 5, this binding plate being carried in a cutaway portion of the said section 5. i c A screw l0 co-operates with the screw 7 to secure the sections to the section "The section 5 is slotted transversely, so

- i3 and on the top face a plate 141e, the two being inter-connected by a. stud l5 passing through the` saidbody portion. The plate 18 is ofk sucha length that when the circuit closing element 2 is centrally disposed with reference to the section 5, the enus of the bowed spring fil engage the ends of the plate 13 and thus hold this circuit closing element in the central position from which itmay be moved only against the resistance of the spring, it being necessary `for the plate to depress thefree end of the spring in order to pass from one side to the other of the section lThe section 4l is slotted transversely so that the circuit closing elec ment may be slidably engaged by it as well` as by the section 5 and the section l further is cut away to provide space for the plates `16 which are attached to the section t by the screws 17. The top plate 14 carries an upstanding stud 18 which may contact with either one olE the plates 1G as a circuit closingl element is moved and this stud acts as a limiting top tor either ot the two extreme positions of the circuit closing elements. The plate 1.4i- .is et such a length as to preclude its contactingi with either of the circuit closing plates 16 when the circuit closing element is in its central or neutral position, such position being maintained by the spring 11 engaging` the ends oli the plate lil. But when the circuit closing element is moved in one or the other direction to its extreme position, the plate 14 contacts with one ot the plates 16 and lirm electrical contact is maintained by the upward pressure exerted by the spring- 11. The upper' section 4- is grooyed indicated in Figure 5, to provide a clearance for pin 18.

rlhe invention is designed primarily as aA socket which may be employed in conjunction with three wire systems where 22() volt lamps are used. (lne of the outside lines connected to the binding` plate 9 and the other to one or". the plates 16, the neutral. beingY connected to the remaining plate 16. Obviously, with this manner ot use, it the circuit closing element is moved so that lits stud 18 contacts with the plate 1G to which the neutral line is connected, the lamp will burn at only halt voltage, the current pasl :ing from the neutralr wire to its attendant plate 1G, thence to the plate 11.1-, the stud 15, the plate 18, the spring- 11, the stud 12, tho lamp which it is presumed is in the socli'et, the husk (5, and the binding plate 9 to the line connected with the said binding,` plate. To cause the lamp to burn at liull Voltagrge the circuit closingl element is moved to bring its stud 18 into contact with. the other plate 16, when the two outside lines become the source ot power for the lamp, the conductingi elements being` the same as betere desrjzribed.

lVheu the circuit closing element is positioned so that the two ends ot' the bowed springy 11 engage they ends oli the plate 1.1%, vthe plate lflstands where it is out of contact with either plate 1G and the circuit is thus open.

While the device has been described essentially as part of a socket it is obvious that the same construction may be embodied in a pendent switch Where it can be made to serve the same useful purpose as in the socket.

The invention. havin;- been descrilawl,y what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A device of the kind dcscribedv comprising' a, `body ha ving means i'or cnn'aggcn'icnt with the respective terminals ol. a lamp base, a circuit closing element slidably mounted in the body7 contact plates carried. by the circuit closing' clement on oplmsiic sides thereot but electrically connected` a bowed spring' having electrical connection with one ot the mea-ns ol" said body and mounted in the body for contact with one of the plates oli the circuit closing element, and a pair of contact plates carried by the body above the circuit closing element 'tor engagement with one oit the plates carried by the circuit closing element, the sprincl tending to raise the circuit closing; elenieiu4 toward the said pair ot .ontact pl atcs can ried by the body in the manner and 'for the purpose specilied.

f2. l device oi the kind described compris ingu body 'lorined in two sections both ot which are slotted transversely to 'torni a guide way, one of said sections haring); means for eii'zx.}ge11ient with the terminals o t a lainp base, means securing tlu` two sccn tions together. a circuit closing; element .mounted in. said (guide way Vtor slidiirev movement therein, a bowed conhirt spring also mounted in the guide way and electrically connected. with one oli said means, a contact plate carried on the bottom ot the circuit closing element for 'tric-tional cnl`qaeinent with one or the other ot the er@ tremities et said contact spring, a plate mounted on top ot the circuit closing' element and electrically count-betrad with the other plate mounted thereon, a pair olf con tact plates carried by the upper section oi the body 'for engagement alternately by the upper ot the contact plates carried by the circuit closing' element, and a. stop carried by the plate on. top ot the circuit closingl elcnwnt and engrageable with either oi'A the. contact plates carried by the body, the bowed contact spring. tending" to raise. thc circuit closing` element 'For contact by thc plate on the top oli the latter with either olf the plates carried by the upper se tion olI the body.

ln testimony whereo't he ali'ixes his signature.

VALTER M CARTER. 

